Stop device

Abstract

A stop device for electronic components housed within a tube comprises an elongate, resilient bow-shaped member having similar, oppositely extending legs defining abutment surfaces thereon for exerting a positive pressure on the electronic components and for absorbing additional pressure applied to the components during handling. A mounting structure is provided for mounting the stop device interiorly of the tube for pivotal movement relative thereto.

Theinvention is claimed as follows: 
     
       1. A stop device for electronic components housed within a tube, comprising: an elongate resilient member defining abutment surfaces thereon for exerting a positive pressure on said electronic components and for absorbing additional pressure applied to said components during handling, said elongate member being bow-shaped and defining a pair of legs extending outwardly from an apex, and mounting means for pivotally mounting said stop device, same mounting means comprises elongate pin means dimensioned for traversing one interior dimension of said tube and pin-engaging means on said elongate member for pivotally engaging said pin means. 
     
     
       2. A stop device according to claim 1 wherein said legs have initial, arcuately oppositely outwardly extending portions and terminate in inwardly converging integral extensions, respective outer surfaces of said extensions defining said abutment surfaces. 
     
     
       3. A stop device according to claim 1 wherein said pin means includes a central cylindrical shaft portion and enlarged diameter leading and trailing tip and head portions for respectively engaging opposite outer surfaces of said tube. 
     
     
       4. A stop device according to claim 3 wherein said tip portion includes a tapered lead-in surface for facilitating initial engagement thereof with and insertion thereof through said through apertures in said tube and thereafter facilitating engagement of said enlarged diameter portion of said tip with one said outer surface of said tube about the periphery of said through aperture therein. 
     
     
       5. A stop device according to claim 4 wherein said tip is conical in configuration. 
     
     
       6. A stop device according to claim 3 wherein said pin means further includes a pair of spaced apart enlarged diameter stop members on said shaft portion thereof for predeterminedly positioning said elongate member with respect to the interior of said tube. 
     
     
       7. A stop device according to claim 1 wherein said pin-engaging means on said elongate member comprises a pair of resilient spaced apart laterally outwardly extending fingers at a central portion thereof, defining therebetween bearing surfaces of complementary configuration for rotatably engaging said pin means. 
     
     
       8. A stop device according to claim 7 wherein said fingers include outwardly diverging portions defining lead-in surfaces for facilitating snapping engagement of said bearing surfaces about said pin means. 
     
     
       9. A stop device according to claim 8 wherein said fingers, said bearing surfaces and said diverging portions thereof are all substantially symmetrically formed. 
     
     
       10. A stop device according to claim 7 wherein said pin means includes a central cylindrical shaft portion and enlarged diameter leading and trailing tip and head portions for respectively engaging opposite outer surfaces of said tube. 
     
     
       11. A stop device according to claim 10 wherein said pin means further includes a pair of spaced apart enlarged diameter stop portions on said shaft portion thereof for engagement with said fingers for positioning said elongate member with respect to the interior of said tube. 
     
     
       12. A stop device according to claim 11 wherein said bearing surfaces define a generally cylindrical opening therebetween of a diameter similar to the diameter of said shaft portion of said pin means and wherein said fingers further define substantially flat top and bottom surfaces for engagement with said stop portions. 
     
     
       13. A stop device according to claim 12 wherein said stop portions have a generally spherical curvature to facilitate free rotation of said fingers relative thereto.